The Maryland State Birth Defects Reporting and Information ​System (BDRIS) works collaboratively with birth facilities and health care providers to confidentially document all birth conditions identified in infants born in Maryland. The reported data is used for two ​purposes: 1) ​to provide information and referral resources to those families affected by a birth condition; and 2) to monitor the occurrence of birth conditions so that information can be used to identify significant changes, evaluate possible causes, and eventually lead to prevention. ​​

What are the c​urrent statistics? 

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), birth defects are estimated to affect more than 120,000 children in the United States every year. Approximately 3% of babies, or 1 of every 33, are born with a structural birth defect. Birth defects remain one of the leading causes of infant deaths. Babies born with birth defects have a greater chance of illness and long term disability than babies born without birth defects. Also, babies born with birth defects are more likely to be born preterm (before the 37th week of pregnancy) than babies without birth defects. Birth defects account for approximately 30% of all pediatric hospital admissions. Additional research is needed to study the links between environmental hazards and birth defects. As a result, BDRIS shares data with the Environmental Public Health Network to study the environmental causes of birth defects.